011 Adapted Florida 1847 Featuring St. Augustine 1778

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Mitchell's Florida 1874 featuring St. Augustine 1778

This 1874 map features the state of Florida with an inset of St. Augustine. The map is all hand colored and was produced by none other than Samuel Augustus Mitchell Junior. The map border features a great floral and ivy pattern that interlocks and weaves lazily around the piece.

The Mitchells were known for their use of flora and fauna in map border motifs. There is as much intricacy in the border as you find in most of their map renderings themselves. These two were some of the most gifted cartographers in the 1800s.

The 1874 map of Florida was produced to be prepared as a part of Mitchell's New General Atlas, 1874 issue. The hand coloring of the state dividing line is evident, as well as shading around various bays and other portions of the coast. Darker shading indicates shallower depth along the coastline. This was a great aid to shipping merchants as they navigated the shallow waters that are all to familiar at various sounds and ports along the coast. The map does have a few peculiarities though.

For instance, there are references to "Indian Hunting Grounds", and "Mangrove Woods". Those two inclusions provide a time stamped looking glass of sorts that allow us to look at the world in a way that was much different then it is currently. The Seminole Wars had recently ended and the map still depicts some of the last remaining places that they Seminole had foraged for food. The Mangrove Woods are what we primarily know today as Mangrove Swamps. Most of these places require a small skiff boat in order to be accessed.

Overall, this piece is simply a great specimen of cartography. It is absolutely some of the Mitchell's finest work. The flora and fauna border hallmark, hand colored details, and poignant, descriptive references might as well be Mitchell trade marks. The 1874 Map of Florida is very Mitchell and very unique due to its historical significance.

This map has been modified to feature an early map of St. Augustine from 1778.